Kelsey Had a Problem

A Fiction tale, of a woman learning to fight back in the face of harassment.

“Damn it.” Kelsey hissed in a low, muted tone as if someone might hear.

A great breath in, a short, massive exhale. Looking at herself in the mirror, she ran the brush through her hair, applied some base, lipstick, the other nonsense that made her beautiful, and a spray of that scent stuff. Each little compact was snapped back into its organized place with just a bit more force than the one before.“OK, Kels, what are you going to do about this problem?” She sat staring at her reflection quietly for a few more minutes, not really seeing it. Then, the phone vibrated and startled her from her deep inner thoughts. It was Tim, a text.

“I am on my way. See you in a few.”

Kelsey turned off the light as she exited the bathroom, stopped, and did the inventory as she turned 360 at the clear spot near the center of her room. Keys, purse, mace, pistol, lights off, closet door shut, dirty close in the hamper, bed made, “Damn it.”, again in a low hiss, she went and made the bed, not quite how she would normally but if someone asked she could say yes.

“Tim, hi!”

“Kels.”

All smiles they hugged, went to the line and eyed the menu.

“What are you thinking,” Tim asked

“I’m Hungry, you? I think I’ll get the panini breakfast sandwich and coffee, of course.”

“We’re syncing again, Kels, exactly what I was thinking, a hot lavender Latte, triple shot.”

“I love you so much Tim, triple shot lavender is the bomb, exactly what I need.”

They munched, sipped, and talked about work plans for the day, and the other etceteras, while they sat at the table.

Finally, Tim cleared the table of debris, sat, and looked into Kelsey’s eyes.

“OK, so, what’s up? I know you didn’t call me last night; all wigged out to arrange a play date. I’m here. Let’s get to it. I have an appointment at noon.”

They sat silent for a moment, Tim looking at Kels, Kels, looking through Tim, trying to construct the sentence before speaking it.

“Kels?”

“I’m being reassigned to the Panama office.”

“Panama, Nice, what’s the big deal? When you get there, see if there is a spot for me,” Tim said, a confused look on his face.

“Steve is the Chief there. That shit head is doing it to me again.”

“Oh, well, shit. You need to go up the chain here sweety, chiefs are intimately involved in choosing street agents; you know what this is. There is no way he isn’t involved in the reassignment.”

“Why is he doing this to me?”

“Cause he is a total Alpha, oppressive, domineering ass. Not to mention a roid rage freak who beats women. So you can’t let this happen, girl.”

“I was thinking about trying to change his mind through private communications. A threat or two of my own, a promise to make Panama stand out in the headlines.”

“Well, you know that doesn’t exist, girl, private communications, you make me laugh. But no, fuck him, he is pressing the buttons, deliberately putting his future on the line. Destroy him. Take it up the chain, girl. Let them know who and what he is.”

“Damn it.”

“Damn him, Kels. Look, I know it is hard. It is personal. It has impacted you in so many horrible ways. No judgment, girl, just truth, you cannot continue to let him pull any strings that impact your life. Don’t let it happen.”

“Right, I know. I was just hoping that it was all dealt with. You are right. I need to end it now, thanks.”

Kels and Tim parted ways, both having essential tasks to accomplish. Tim was working a sleeper agent from China who was propagating false stories of U.S. involvement in the Terror attack on Germany. Kels had to complete the report on the loss of five million dollars in a drug sting gone wrong.

She would file the objection to reassignment while at the office. How much of the past would she reveal?

“Tell all, baby, go big or go home,” Tim had said at the coffee shop.

Home for the day, Kelsey sat crying, immersed in a hot tub of bubbles, an empty drink glass near her, her phone on the counter, music playing a little too loud, she rocked back and forth.

“Damn it.”

Check out more of my Flash-Fiction stories, quick short reads for a fanciful, fiction break, for the busy person.

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© 2020, T. Mark Mangum

T. Mark Mangum, a product of the unimaginable worlds of Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, and the Lord of the Rings. Lover and writer of fiction tales. He is a Veteran and a father of six, and a game enthusiast.